Reserves - exclusive of Regular Army Reserve and Officers of the Officers Reserve Corps on active duty under the Thomason Act (Officers and Enlisted Men -- O.R.C. and E.R.C., and Nurses-Reserve Status)1

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Lt Elmore W Tonini

1944
—Italy

FROM Ed Tonini, son " ___" My father flew with the 310th Bomb Group during WWII. Only recently have any members of our family been able to get him to talk about his combat experiences. He was the Pilot of B-25J-25 #44-30141. I have a copy of his orders to return to the US (Hunter Field, Savannah, GA) after the end of the war in Europe dated 9 July 1945. It was a flight of three B-25 #43-27508 piloted by 2nd Lt John S Schill from Inglewood, California; #4430119, piloted by 2nd Lt Cleo C. Rowland, from Boise, Idaho and the third piloted by my Dad, 2nd LT Elmore Tonini from Louisville, KY.

I was wondering if there is any way to find out of any of the crew are still around or if any of the members of this site might remember my dad. I would also like to get a duplicate set of whatever medals and/or ribbons he is authorized in order to make a presentation to him. His aircraft nose art said Cleo's Bunny (after my mother Cleona). Any information anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Ed Tonini

2005; Wow! I see where I am now back to the rank of cadet... and to think I just retired from the USAF as a Brigadier General. I guess with this group (The Greatest Generation) I am truely just a cadet.

Ed

It's me again (Dominique Taddei) i don't know how to enter in the Forum and tell to Mr Tonini that his Father was in the squadron of your Father the 381st BS, give him my email adress and i 'll give him all the informations concerning his first flight and his last Flight with one of my best friend Mr Parfet who lives in Michigan. Ted Parfet went to Corsica and i met him in Paris with his daughter Joan and his son Don.

2nd Lt Elmore Tonini flew his first mission the 10th of April 1945 with Lt Bierds on 43-27543 (Form I -A ) and his last mission the 3rd of May 1944 [sic] with Captain Ted Parfet on the 44-28939, but he flew with Lt Bob Zulauf 43-4034 (Sky Larkin), Lt Hines and Lt O'brien.

Mr Tonini, as Vinny wrote you, your Father was in the 381st BS, i think that he started his flight missions out of Fano and has never been at Ghisonaccia -Gare. Corsica. His first mission was the 10th of April 1945 and finished the 3rd of May 1945 (and not 44) The 10th of April he was with 1st Lt Bierds 43-27543 then the same day in the afternoon he flew with 1st Lt Bob Zulauf on the 43-4034 Sky Larkin, the 11th Lt Bierds 327543 - 11th Lt Bierds 327674 - 13th Lt Hines 43-4044 -15th Lt Hines 327494 - 16th Lt Hines 43-32611 - 24th Lt O'Brien 43-27674 - Th 3rd of May 1945 he flew with my friend Captain Parfet on the 44 - 28939 Mission Bolzano to Pieve di Cadore 180packages of nickels. When the war ended , your Father went back to the US of A with Rowlands who was in the 380th BS, they got a plane which was not in the 310th BG but perhaps in the 319th or in the 321st BG. Sincerly Dominique Taddei from Corsica

2005; Mr Tonini, according to the Maxwell AFB reels, i was wrong in my previous message, your Father arrived at Ghisonaccia-Gare Corsica the 1st of April 1945 with several Officers, 1st Lt George A . Mattmiller, 2nd Lts Floyd K Anderson, Edwin E Belding, Hector D Blair, Merle R Cox, Gaston J Cullen, James J Diblasio, Edward H. Knapp, Alfred T Leonard, Frederick I. Livaich, Ronald W Madley, George W Mooney, Max E Mulhollan, Marcus J. Muller, Leslie Myles, Richard F.Shantz, Eddie F Schmidt, Ernest T Smith, William H Smith, Homer N Stephenson, Elmore W. Tonini, Wendell H Wiser and William W Woods. The 7th of April the 310th personnel started its departure to Fano in Italy. The last mission from Ghisonaccia- Gare (Corsica) took off the 6th of April 1945, the next missions took off from Fano Italy, the first one was the 8th of April, the 9th of April your Father was the copilot of the 1st Lt J Wood, the Bombardier was the 2nd Lt L.V Bates, the Radio Gunner S/Sgt J.J Osochowsky, the Gunner S/Sgt E.J Dobrowolski and strangely the tail gunner was a 1st Lt S Stemboroski. The B-25 was the 43-36133. The 10th of April he flew two missions etc. Dominique Taddei

Hello. I believe the 1st Lt S Stemboroski you mention is the late Captain Steve Stemboroski of Camden NJ, who helped raise me. I'm fascinated by your saying 'strangely'. Any info on that, or anything related to him, would be most appreciated. Thank you.

AOL

Mr Tonini, according to the Maxwell AFB reels, i was wrong in my previous message, your Father arrived at Ghisonaccia-Gare Corsica the 1st of April 1945 with several Officers, 1st Lt George A . Mattmiller, 2nd Lts Floyd K Anderson, Edwin E Belding, Hector D Blair, Merle R Cox, Gaston J Cullen, James J Diblasio, Edward H. Knapp, Alfred T Leonard, Frederick I. Livaich, Ronald W Madley, George W Mooney, Max E Mulhollan, Marcus J. Muller, Leslie Myles, Richard F.Shantz, Eddie F Schmidt, Ernest T Smith, William H Smith, Homer N Stephenson, Elmore W. Tonini, Wendell H Wiser and William W Woods. The 7th of April the 310th personnel started its departure to Fano in Italy. The last mission from Ghisonaccia- Gare (Corsica) took off the 6th of April 1945, the next missions took off from Fano Italy, the first one was the 8th of April, the 9th of April your Father was the copilot of the 1st Lt J Wood, the Bombardier was the 2nd Lt L.V Bates, the Radio Gunner S/Sgt J.J Osochowsky, the Gunner S/Sgt E.J Dobrowolski and strangely the tail gunner was a 1st Lt S Stemboroski. The B-25 was the 43-36133. The 10th of April he flew two missions etc. Dominique Taddei

Tonini, Elmore William
TONINI, ELMORE WILLIAM, went to be with his Savior and Lord Jesus Christ on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 He was born in Louisville, KY, (more to come) Barbi Ennis Connolly, PRINCESSBARBI_B25@msn.com

My father flew with the 310th Bomb Group during WWII. Only recently have any members of our family been able to get him to talk about his combat experiences. He was the Pilot of B-25J-25 #44-30141. I have a copy of his orders to return to the US (Hunter Field, Savannah, GA) after the end of the war in Europe dated 9 July 1945. It was a flight of three B-25 #43-27508 piloted by 2nd Lt John S Schill from Inglewood, California; #4430119, piloted by 2nd Lt Cleo C. Rowland, from Boise, Idaho and the third piloted by my Dad, 2nd LT Elmore Tonini from Louisville, KY.

I was wondering if there is any way to find out of any of the crew are still around or if any of the members of this site might remember my dad. I would also like to get a duplicate set of whatever medals and/or ribbons he is authorized in order to make a presentation to him. His aircraft nose art said Cleo's Bunny (after my mother Cleona). Any information anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Elmore Tonini

Elmore's son Brig Gen. Ed Tonini, USAF Ret.

2012
—KY

BIO for the General; BRIGADIER GENERAL EDWARD W. TONINI

Brig. Gen. Edward W. Tonini is Director of Your Guardians of Freedom, Secretary of the Air Force Office of Public Affairs, Washington, D.C. The general directs an outreach program designed to build and sustain public support for America's airmen in direct support of the global war on terrorism.

General Tonini is a 1973 graduate of Bellarmine University, Louisville, Ky., where he received a degree in history. The general is a career Air National Guard officer, who shortly after Sept. 11, 2001, was placed on active duty and brought to the Pentagon to direct Your Guardians of Freedom. Prior to his mobilization, he served as Chief of Staff of the Kentucky ANG. In that role, he served as the Adjutant General of Kentucky through the Assistant Adjutant General for Air as a principal adviser on matters pertaining to the states ANG. General Tonini oversaw the operational activities of Headquarters Kentucky ANG and all its staff agencies.

Prior to his position as Chief of Staff of the Kentucky ANG, he spent 26 years in public affairs. He is the first career public affairs officer in ANG history to be appointed a state Chief of Staff, and to attain the rank of general officer. He has extensive experience in dealing with the local, regional, national and international media. The general has produced news features and documentaries about the Kentucky ANG, and his writings have been published in newspapers and periodicals around the world.